Mills-Peninsula Health Blog

Skip the Flu: Get Vaccinated

Each year, more than 200,000 Americans are hospitalized for flu-related complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, many people get the flu every year without showing any symptoms. To stay healthy, the CDC recommends the flu vaccination for everyone age 6 months and older. Not only should those most vulnerable— the elderly, pregnant women and young children — receive the flu vaccine, but healthier individuals should also be vaccinated so they don’t spread the virus to others. Vaccination against the flu is safe and effective.

“None of us would ever knowingly expose our family and close associates to flu, but influenza are tricky viruses,” says Kim S. Erlich, M.D., medical director of Infection Control at Mills-Peninsula Health Services. “Influenza spreads very easily, and you can pass the flu to someone else before you ever feel sick. In fact, up to 30 percent of people get the flu every year without having any symptoms, yet are still contagious to others. There are several types of flu vaccines available, and these vaccines markedly reduce the chances of getting the flu or passing the virus to others. These vaccines are very safe.”

Flu vaccinations are now widely available throughout the region. How’s how to get one.

If you are not a PAMF patient: You can get a flu vaccination at your doctor’s office or at a local retail pharmacy. To find a flu vaccine clinic location near you, visit the HealthMap Vaccine Finder. You can learn more about the flu and answers to frequently asked questions at pamf.org/flu.

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This blog offers articles & general health tips from our medical experts to promote wellness. It does not provide personalized medical advice. If you have a specific medical question, please contact your doctor directly. Thank you for visiting our blog.